The procurement process for the necessary equipment for the project “Program for the Reduction of Solid Municipal Waste from Coastal Hotel Units and Related Waste-Generating Sites for the Limassol and Paphos Districts”, with an estimated cost of €10.5 million, is currently underway, according to Ms. Ioanna Konstantinidou, Senior Environmental Officer at the Department of Environment, in an interview with “Entrepreneurial Limassol”.
The program follows a similar project implemented in the districts of Larnaca and Famagusta and promotes proper waste management, emphasizing reduction, source separation, and separate collection of municipal solid waste, as well as recycling and processing of paper, PMD, glass, and organic waste. The project includes the procurement, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment for the separate sorting of recyclable and organic waste (bins, compactors, presses, skips, garbage trucks, shredders) in municipalities and communities along the coastal front of Limassol and Paphos districts.
With an estimated budget of €10,500,000, the project is being implemented within the framework of the Cohesion Policy Program "THALIA 2021-2027’’, co-financed by the European Union. According to Ms. Konstantinidou, on 19/1/2024 the contract for the procurement of 129 paper compactors, valued at €2,098,885 plus VAT, was signed, with deliveries starting in April 2025 and ongoing. On 24/1/2024, the contract for the procurement of two branch shredders, valued at €64,474 plus VAT, was signed, and the delivery has already been completed.
Following, on 8/3/2024, the contract for the procurement of two garbage trucks with cranes and six garbage trucks for organic waste, valued at €1,881,280 plus VAT, was signed, with deliveries beginning in August 2025. Meanwhile, on 26/11/2024, the contract for the project’s Communication Strategy, valued at €207,540 plus VAT, was signed and is currently underway, including branding, radio and TV spots, social media posts, targeted surveys, and promotional items.
On 10/1/2025, the contract for the procurement of six vehicles with hydraulic lifting mechanisms (Skip Loaders) and three trucks with cranes and grapples (8x4) for the loading and transport of paper and glass, valued at €1,387,430 plus VAT, was signed. On 10/9/2025, the contract for 100 paper presses was signed, while the tender for 82 skip-type waste bins is expected to be announced in November 2025. The remaining equipment tenders will be announced gradually throughout the year.
Ms. Konstantinidou emphasized that local authorities are responsible for informing hotel units and related sites about their participation in the project, noting that the response has been positive. These businesses are located in the Limassol district within the municipalities of Limassol and Amathus, as well as in the communities of Pyrgos and Parekklisia. During the equipment delivery, training is provided to the staff of hotel units and related sites, and the contractor for each contract delivers an Equipment User Guide, in both printed and electronic form, for proper use and maintenance of the equipment.
The Department of Environment points out that, currently, there are insufficient facilities along the coastal front of Limassol and Paphos districts for proper source separation and separate collection of municipal solid waste, leading to uncontrolled waste disposal on streets and sidewalks, creating pollution hotspots and public nuisance. Furthermore, most waste-generating sites do not have sufficient bins for source separation, and infrequent collection by collective waste management systems results in bins remaining full. The lack of infrastructure hinders the achievement of targets set by the EU and the Republic of Cyprus for waste management.
Efforts by local authorities to clean and restore uncontrolled disposal sites are insufficient and significantly strain their budgets, without effectively addressing the problem. Recognizing the challenges of both resource scarcity and environmental pollution, the state, through the Department of Environment, implements this project in cooperation with the Local Authorities of the coastal fronts of Limassol and Paphos.
Expected Benefits of the Project:
· Contribution to achieving the targets of Directive 2018/851/EU regarding the waste management hierarchy (reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, disposal).
· Achievement of national recycling and composting targets for the years 2025, 2030, and 2035.
· Strengthening source separation and separate collection of waste, in synergy with the “Pay-As-You-Throw” system.
· Promotion of sustainable waste management and waste reduction.
· Achievement of high-quality recycling and diversion of organic and recyclable waste from landfills.
· Environmental protection and improvement of the image of tourist areas.
· Enhancement of residents’ quality of life.
· Cultivation of environmental awareness.
· Reduction of mixed waste quantities sent to landfill.
According to information received by “Entrepreneurial Limassol” from the relevant local authorities, in the Municipality of Amathunta, during the first phase, compressors were installed at six locations — four hotels and two supermarkets — while another seven are expected to be installed in the second phase. In the Municipality of Limassol, during the first phase, compressors were installed at two hotels and one restaurant, while a total of fifteen will be installed across both phases.
The project’s communication strategy will continue until November 2026, through TV and radio campaigns, social media posts (Facebook, Instagram), and media awareness campaigns. Additionally, new equipment tenders will be announced, including 82 skip-type waste bins, 66 underground bins with controlled access systems, 2 electric vehicles for paper packaging collection, 2 double-cab pickup trucks for transporting shredders and collecting materials, as well as 1,100 wheeled bins of 120 L capacity and 1,000 bins of 240 L for organic waste.
Moreover, targeted training sessions will be conducted, agreements will be signed with local authorities and licensed waste processing units, and project monitoring will be carried out through annual reports and data submission to the Department of Environment’s platform, which is currently under development.
